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Though I'm not familiar with SL, I'm pretty familiar with MMORPGs and similar software. I think what set the late nineties and early 00's projects apart from wh

Though I'm not familiar with SL, I'm pretty familiar with MMORPGs and similar software. I think what set the late nineties and early 00's projects apart from what is being done today was that they were pure passion projects. 1 to 6 individuals in remote basements just grinding it out over the course of years. Nowadays a lot of big VR and AR efforts are funded by millions of dollars, the founders who should have the passion aren't doing the actual development, and many if not all staff are probably anxious to leave and catch an uber for $12 cocktails at the local hotspot. That's not a bad thing. God forbid it's healthier. But it is a different environment and we can't expect the same creative output.

BatFastard 9y ago
As one of the people who founded one of those projects in the ought's I can say a couple of things. There were only two in the early 2000s, SecondLife which raised 11 million in 2000, and my company Prototerra which raised 500k. SL came out to much fan-fair (amazing what a little PR will do for you). While we struggled to get any press. Eventually we did well being the tech behind a number of money making sites. Around 2005 there were quite a few new ones that raised a lot of money, none still exist. Neither does Prototerra, crash of 2008 killed business and the 3 guys working in the backroom had families by then, but it was fun!
- idibidiart 9y ago
  OnLive Traveler came much earlier My friend worked on it back in the 90s told me about it. It was licensed to MTV. Huge cult following. I found this: https://archive.org/details/vw_traveler-bill_gates https://archive.org/details/vw_traveler-bill_gates
  - BatFastard 9y ago
    Indeed there was a number of previous generation virtual worlds using VRML. Lets say they left a lot to be desired.
- wildpeaks 9y ago
  There were also all the blaxxun-based ones, such as Cybertown or the one from Canal+.

BatFastard 9y ago

As one of the people who founded one of those projects in the ought's I can say a couple of things. There were only two in the early 2000s, SecondLife which raised 11 million in 2000, and my company Prototerra which raised 500k. SL came out to much fan-fair (amazing what a little PR will do for you). While we struggled to get any press. Eventually we did well being the tech behind a number of money making sites. Around 2005 there were quite a few new ones that raised a lot of money, none still exist. Neither does Prototerra, crash of 2008 killed business and the 3 guys working in the backroom had families by then, but it was fun!

idibidiart 9y ago
OnLive Traveler came much earlier My friend worked on it back in the 90s told me about it. It was licensed to MTV. Huge cult following. I found this: https://archive.org/details/vw_traveler-bill_gates https://archive.org/details/vw_traveler-bill_gates
- BatFastard 9y ago
  Indeed there was a number of previous generation virtual worlds using VRML. Lets say they left a lot to be desired.
wildpeaks 9y ago
There were also all the blaxxun-based ones, such as Cybertown or the one from Canal+.